Biddle to stand for Māori Party in Rotorua

Wendy Biddle has been
selected to run for the Māori Party in the Rotorua
electorate in this year's General Election.

"We're
excited to have Wendy on board our campaign. The work she
has and does for our people, including, homeless whānau is
to be admired and respected,” says Māori Party president
Tukoroirangi Morgan.

"There's a saying that when you
educate a man, you educate a man but that when you educate a
woman, you educate a generation. And if we're to ensure that
we eliminate homelessness and poverty in this country, then
we need staunch and passionate woman like Wendy.”

Wendy is a Te Koutu resident and is married to local
broadcaster Kingi Biddle. They have four tamariki and three
mokopuna. Wendy is a kōhanga reo office manager and is
active in advocating for the communities she works in.

“I want to be the voice for those who feel
disempowered by the system,” says Mrs Biddle.

“I
have witnessed many people struggling and it’s not only
the ones that live on the streets. I’ve witnessed elderly
and beneficiaries being ignored. Working families struggling
to put kai on the table and areas in the health sector that
fall short of caring well for their patients because the
budget is at the forefront of the decision making,” she
says.

“The Māori Party and I are committed to
ensuring that all people of Rotorua are served under the
guiding principles of manaakitanga and
rangatiratanga.”

Mr Morgan says the Māori Party
is standing 15 candidates so far in general seats throughout
the country.

“This is a timely reminder that even
non- Māori can vote Māori Party. We are a party for
Aotearoa which seeks the wellbeing for all peoples of this
land.”

Mrs Biddle will be available for media
interviews today at Te Koutu Kōhanga Reo on Huratai Street,
Rotorua from 11am to
12.30pm.

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